Connection for connecting angular members together



Feb l0, 1931. G. A. E. KOHLER CONNECTION FOR CONNECTING ANGULAR MEMBERSTOGETHER Filed DGG- 25. 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. l0, 1931. G. A. E.KOHLER CONNECTION FOR CONNECTING ANGULAR' MEMBERS TOGETHER 2Sheets-Sheet Filed Dec. 26, 1919 Patented Feb. 10, 1931 .i UNITED STATESGusTAvUs A. E. IrO'IILER, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS CONNECTION Fon CONNECTINGNennen MEMBERS TOGETHER Application filed. December 26, 1919. Serial No.347,405.

This invention relates .to anew and improved connection for connectingangular members together; and has for its object to providea new andimproved Connection 'of l this description which shall be cheap inconstruction, and which can be easily and quickly assembled Aand whichAwhen assembled ,will form arigid, detachable connection -between suchangular members.l The connectionV may A be used in constructionswherever itis desirable to connect angular members together, such asfurniture, building constructions,` ladders, joints and the like. Theinvention has other objectswhich are more specifically. 1.3 set outinthe description following V Referring now to the accompanyingdrawin sig. 1 is a view showing one form of connection embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 yis a vertical sectional view therethrough;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the connection illustrated in Fig. 1Vwith parts b roken away and parts omitted;

1J Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the twointerlocking parts used in theconnection.;

Fig. 5 isa horizontal sectional view through the connection vshowing oneof the angular members before the connection is 2T' completed;

Fig. 6 is ka perspective View with parts broken away; Y

Fig. 7 is a view of one form1of spring used in the Connection;

Fig. 8 .is a sectionalv viewtakenon line 8-8 of Fig. 2; i

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing a modf iiied construction;

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view showing a i0 further modification;

Fig. 11 is a View showing a iication; i

Figt 12 is a side view f the device illustrated in Fig. 11j

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

Referring now to the drawings I have shown a connection formed betweenthe'two angular members 1 and 2. These members areliollow and may bemade of metal. One

further modiof the members, as for examplethe member 1, has anopening 1ain one side. A connecting element islinserted in this opening and theother angular member is connected to i this connecting element. Theconnecting element. illustrated which is shown inv Fig. 4, r consists oftwo sections 3 and 4; which when placed. together form a short hollowYpiece 'i which iits, into the member 2. The section 3' is provided witha lateral holding piece 5, while. the section 4 is provided 'with asimilar lateral holding piece 6. Means Vis' provided for preventingthese two sections slidingv relatively so as to become out of. alignmentor separated. inthe construction shown one of these sectionsis providedwith projections 7, while the other one is Vprovided with receivingspaces 8 for saidprojections. The vedges of vthe projections andthereceiving spaces are beveled as shown at 9 (see Fig. 8).

rlhis bevel is also shown in Fig. 4. In connecting Vthe two angularmembers Atogether the projection 5 of one section of the connect-V ingelement is inserted in the opening 1? in the member 1; and the lateralholding projectioii 6 of the other section is also inserted in theopening, the two sections vbeing ill- 'l clined at an angle to themember 1 while this is being done. In other words the section 3 istiltedup during this process and the section 4 tilted down, and then thetwo sections are brought together as illustrated in Fig. 3, so thatthelateral holding projections 5 and 6 engage the inner face of themember l above and below the opening 1a. An interior holding member lOis then inserted in Vthe member 1 and'is of such size that tlieholdingprojections 5 and 6 are held between it and the Y inner face ofthemember 1 as shown in Fig.

2. I prefer to have this interior member so that it makes a snug fit inthe space left for it on the Vinside of the member 1. When this interiorholding Vmember is in position, the connecting element is in theposition shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and then forms a rigid part, theprojections 7 and the beveled faces 9 preventing any lateral movement ofthe outer ends of the sections 3 and 4. When thus assembled theconnecting element is practically the same as if it were a unitarystructure.

The member 2 is then slid upon the connecting element until it occupiesthe position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Some means is provided fordetachably locking the member 2 with the connecting element. I haveillustrated in Fig. 7 one construction for this purpose which consistsof a spring 11 bent back upon itself and inserted in the connectingelement. This spring is provided with a projection 12 which passesthrough an opening 18 in the connecting element. This projection alsopasses through an opening 14 in the member 2. The projection ispreferably provided with a beveled end so that when the member 2 ismoved to its final position it will strike this beveled face and pushthe projection inwardly, the spring permitting this, and then when theopening 14 comes opposite the projection the spring will. force theprojection through said opening and thus lock the parts together.

In Fig. 5 I have shown one of the most common forms of constructionwherein there are two vertical members 1, separated any desireddistance, the two vertical members being connected by a cross member 21.The two vertical members each has the connecting element hereinbeforedescribed. In a construction of this kind after the member 2 has beenmoved into position as hereinbefore described so that the projection 12enters the opening 14 to lock the parts together, the connecting elementattached to the other member 1 is then moved into position with relationto the other end of the member 2 and locked in a similar position. Itwill be noted that the angular members are now removably fastenedtogether.

In Fig. 9 I have shown aI modified construction for one of the angularmembers. In this construction the angular member instead of being ahollow member is made in the shape of an angle having the two sides 16and 17. Connected at the end or ends of this angle member is a shorthollow piece 18 which is fastened thereto in any desired manner as bymeans of fastening devices 19. A connecting member consisting of thepieces 3 and 4 is inserted in this hollow piece and the projection 12enters the opening 13. This cheapens the construction and yet securesthe same result so far as connecting the members together is concerned.

It will be noted that in Fig. 9 the short hollow piece 18 is on theinside of the angle member.

In Fig. 10 I have shown a. further modification where there is an anglemember similar to that shown in F ig. 9, having the sides 16 and 17. Inthis construction the short member 18a is on the outside of the anglemember instead of the inside and is suitably fastened thereto. Theconnecting element consisting of the parts 3 and 4 is inserted inside ofthe angle member as illustrated, and

the projection 12 enters the opening in the short hollow piece 18a tolock the parts together. This connection can be used in anj7construction where it is desired to connect angular members together,such as building constructions, furniture, ladders, toys and all otherarticles of manufacture where it is applicable.

I have described in detail a particular construction embodying theinvention but it is ofcourse evident that the parts may be varied inmany particulars, without departing from the spirit of the invention asset forth in the claims hereto appended, and I therefore do not limitmyself to the particular construet-ion shown and described.

Instead of forming the sections 3 and 4 with the beveled faces 9, I mayleave these faces 9 and form the piece 3 with projections 3a on eachside thereof, and the piece 4 with projections 4a on each side thereofas shown. These projections may be formed integral therewith if desiredand are bent inwardly so that the projections 3 engage the inner facesof the part 4, while the projections 4a engage the inner faces of thepart 3 so as to prevent lateral movement of the parts. If desired theinterior holding member 10 may be omitted, for when the members 2 are inposition and the projection 12 in the opening 13, the ends of the member2 engage the face of the member 1 so as to form a rigid connection andprevent distortion or displacement of the members when pressure is putupon them. In such event I prefer to have the two projections 12 on thespring 11 as illustrated in Fig. 5. I/Vhen this interior holding memberis omitted it is desirable to hold the holding pieces 5 and 6 againstthe inner face of the wall of the member 1 while the member 2 is beingplaced in position and this may be done by a temporary interior memberwhich can be removed after the parts are in position. This will cheapenand lighten the construction.

I claim:

1. A device of the kind described comprising ahollow, angular memberhaving' an inner face and being provided with an opening which extendsinto the hollow thereof, said member being formed integral at the pointwhere the opening is located, a connecting element comprising twoseparate coacting sections detachable from each other, each having alaterally extending holding piece adapted to be inserted in saidopening' when the sections are separated and to engage the innerfaceofsaidmember,whenthetwo sections are brought together, said sectionswhen brought together forming a short hollow piece, a locking part insaid hollow member movable substantially parallel to said holding partsand which holds them against the inner face of said member, and meansfor preventing the two sections of the connecting element from l saidmember being'provided with an opening extending into the-hollow thereofand being i'ormed integral at the point where the opening is located, a'connecting element comprisingtwo sections each having alaterallyextending holding piece adapted to be inserted in said opening toengage'the inner face of the member provided with saidl opening, whenthe twosections are brought together, said sections when broughtvtogether-r forming a short hollow piece adapted to -it into a receivingopening in i the tiret" angular member, means iii the angular memberinto which said lateral holding pieces are received for holding ysaidlateral holding pieces against movement,

means for preventing the two sectionsv oit the connecting element fromsliding with re-A lation to eachother after they have 'been broughttogether, and locking mechanismfor locking the iirst angular member andthe oonii'ecting element together.

3; A device ot the kir d described comprising a hollow, :angular memberhaving an inner face and beingprovided with an opening which entendsinto the. hollow thereof, said member being formed integral at the pointwhere the opening is located, a connecting element comprising twoseparate sections each fliaving a Vlaterally extending holding'piece a5adapted torbe inserted in said opening,lsaid sections when broughttogether forming a short hollow piece, an interior holding membei'adapted'to beiiiserted in the Vmember into which the lateral holdingpieces are received and which iixes said lateral holdingpieces positionbetween the interior holding meinber and the wall of said member, andmeans for preventing the .two sections of the con-v necting element fromsliding with relation to each other after they have been broughttogether. l

4. A device of the kind described comprising a hollow, angular memberhaving an inner face and being provided with an opening whichextendsinto the hollow thereof, said member being formed integral at thepoint where the opening is located, a connecting element comprising twoseparate sections each having a laterally extending holding pieceadapted to be inserted insaid opening, said sections when broughttogether forming a rshort hollow piece, an interior holding memberadapted to be inserted in the member into which thelateral holdingpieces are received-and 'which' fixes said lateral holding pieces inposition between thev holding memser and thel wall of said member, asecond member having a receiving opening into which saidconnectingelement is received,

*means for preventing the two sections of the connecting element ifromtsliding fwith relation to "each 'Jotherpafterthey 1 have been broughttogether, and means for, removably lockingsaidlatter member .to saidconnecting e'lementiv n 5. A device of thekind described'comprisinganwaiigular member havingia hollow por- Y tion with an inner faceandprovided with an opening extending into the hollow portionV andbeinglformed integral at the point where fthefopeningis located, aconnecting element comprising two `coacting sections detachable :fromeach other and having portions which extend throiigh'saidropening into.said hol-'i i lowportion, holding means for preventing Vlongitudinalmovement of said"y connecting element with relation to said member, andmeans forming a part of said sections and integral therewith forpreventing the two sectionsof thev connecting element from movingtransversely .with relation to eachother vafter theyhave been broughttogether;V i A device or the kind described compris- .ing anangularmember having a hollowportionwith-an inner face and provided withan opening extending into the hollow portion, a connecting elementvconsistingof two separate sections each havinga laterally extendingholdin e g piece adapted to be inserted-in `said-opening and to-engagethe inner face of said member when vthe two sections are broughttogether,means in said member for holding said' lateral holding piecesvagainst movement away from the inner face" of said member, a portionofthemeeting edges of g ing an angular member having a hollow portionwith an innerface and provided with an opening extending into theliollowportion, a

lili] the sections of said connecting element bel ingbeveledso that whenthe sections are connecting element consisting of two separate sectionseach having a laterally extend- -ing holdingpiece adapted to be insertedin said openingand to engage the inner face of said member when the two`sections are Vbrought together, means in said `member for holding saidlateral holding pieces against movement awayirom the inner face of. saidmember, a portion of the meeting edges of the sections of theconnectingelement being beveled, one of said sections having aprojection the other vsections being provided with a receiving openinginto which said projection is received, whereby relative slidingmovement oi the sections is prevented when they are brought together.

8; A device of the kind described comprising an angular member havingahollow portion with an inner face and provided with an openingextending into the hollow portion aiidbeiiig formed integral at thepoint where the opening is located, a connecting element consisting oftwo separate sections each having a laterally extending holding pieceadapted to be inserted in said opening and to engage the inner face ofsaid member when the two sections are brought together, means in saidmember for holding said lateral holding pieces against movement awayfrom the inner face of said member7 a portion of the meeting edges ofthe sections of the connecting element being beveled, one of saidsections having a projection the other section being provided with areceiving opening into which said projection is received, said pro#jection having a beveled edge which engages a beveled edge associatedwith the receiving opening, whereby relative sliding movement ofthesections is prevented when they are brought together.

' 9. An article of manufacture comprising two metalsections which whenpressed together form a hollow structure',one 01"' said sections havinga projection integral therewith, the other section being provided with areceiving opening into which said projection is received,

, said projection having a'transversely beveled edge which engages atransversely beveled faceassociated with the receiving opening therebypreventing relative longitudinal and transverse sliding movement ol? thesections when they are brought together, said sections being detachablefrom each other so that they may be completely separated from each otherby a relative, longitudinal separating movement.

l0. A connecting element consisting of two separate sections each havinga laterally eX- tending holding piece, portions of the meeting edges oithe sections of the connecting element being beveled, one of saidsections having a projection integral therewith, the other section beingprovided with a receiving openinto which said projection is received,said projection having a transversely beveled edge which engages atransversely beveled Jface associated with the receiving opening wherebyrelative transverse, sliding movement of the sections is prevented whenthey are brought together, said sections being detachable -from eachother so that they may be completely separated from each other by arelative, longitudinal separating movenient.

ll. A device of the kind described coinprising an angular member havinga hollow portion', said hollow portion havin an inner tace, said memberbeing provided with an opening ext-ending into the hollow thereof andbeing formed ii'iteg at the point where the opening` is located, aconnecting element eoiisisiing ot two separate sections each having alaterally eirtendin a` holding piece adapted to be inserted in saidopening and to engage the inner face ot said inemlz-er when the twosections are brought together, means in said .member for holding saidlateral holding pieces against movement away from the inner face of saidmember, a por tion ot the meeting edges of the sections of theconnecting element being beveled, one of said sections having a`projection the other section being provided with a receiving openinginto which said projection is received, whereby relative slidingmovement of the sections is prevented when they are brought together, aspring in said connecting element, a projection on said spring adaptedto project through an opening in the connecting element, a. secondmember having a receiving opening into which said connecting element isreceived and provided with an opening into which the projection on saidspring projects, whereby the two members are removably lockedv together.

l2. A device of the kind described com- 4:sing a hollow angular memberprovided h an opening extending into the hollow tnereo'i, said memberbeing formed integral at the point where the opening is located, a

resting element comprising two separate each having a `laterallyextending j piece adapted to be inserted in said said sections whenbrought together a short hollow piece, an interior Y member adapted tobe inserted in nber into which the lateral holding are received andwhich Fixes said lateral holding pieces in position between the interiorholding member and the wall of said member, and means for preventing thetwo sections of thel connecting element from sliding with relation toeach other after they have been brought together, a spring in saidVonnecting element, a projection on said spring adapted to projectthrough an opening the connecting ele-ment, a second member having areceiving opening into which said meeting element is received andprovided n an opening into which the projection on said spring projects,whereby the two members are removably locked together.

i3. A device of the kind described comprising two angular members, oneof said members being hollow and having an inner liace, said memberbeing provided with an opening extending into the hollow thereof andbeing formed integral at the point where the opening is located, aconnecting element comprising two coacting sections detachable from eachother, each having a laterally extending holding piece adapted to beinserted in said opening to engage the inner face of the member providedwith said opening when the two sections are brought together a'secondhollow angular member having a receiving opening said sections whenbrought together forming a. short hollow piece the other angular memberbeing provided at its end with a receiving opening linto which saidshort, hollow piece is received, moans for preventing the two sectionsof the connecting element from sliding transversely with relation toeach other when they have been brought together, andlocking means forlocking said latter angular member and the connecting element togetherto 'form a rigid structure.

14. An article of manufacture comprising ahollow device composed of twoco-acting metal sections detachable from each other l and having flatsides, one of said sections having a receiving opening extendinglongitudinally thereof and the other having a projection on one of itsfiat sides in the plane extending longitudinally through the fiat V sidecontaining it and adapted to be received` within said opening throughrelative, 1ongitudinal movement of said sections andV means forpreventing relative, transverse movement of said sections. 2o l5. Anarticle of manufacturev comprising an angular member having a hollowportion having an inner face and being provided with an opening,extending into the hollow thereof a hollow connecting element projectingfrom said opening and having laterally vextending holding'piecesprojecting on the interior of said element in opposite directions fromsaid opening and removable means within said member for holding saidcon-Y necting element in position. i f

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature this 17th day of December,1919. v

GUSTAVUS A. E. KOHLER.

